FORT BLISS, Texas (Nov. 13, 2014) -- More than 20 weathered and tattered American flags that were displayed at homes, government offices and military cemeteries across the U.S. were properly disposed of during a flag retreat and retirement ceremony held Friday at the Old Fort Bliss Replica here.
The ceremony was meant to honor the American flag, promote flag etiquette, and re-emphasize its importance and symbolism, said Letty West, a Stars & Stripes Daily employee who helped organize the event.
"Our American flag is the symbol of our democracy," said West, also a member of the Association of the U.S. Army and Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce. "We just want to make sure that our community understands the importance of not only the (American) flag retirement and what it means, but also the importance of the tradition."
The ceremony began just before the sun set on Friday, when the familiar notes of the "retreat" bugle call -- a ubiquitous sound on Army installations that signals the end of each duty day -- rang out as an American flag was lowered from the flag pole in the center of the Replica.
Members of the Bel Air High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps retrieved the flag and properly folded it as an emcee recited to those in attendance the significance of each fold. Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Karen Meeker, the 1st Armored Division chaplain, was then presented the flag, which bore 31 stars, a nod to the era between 1854 and 1868, during which Fort Bliss was located at Magoffinsville, Texas.
Meeker had previously offered the opening prayer at flag retreat ceremonies and had even presented flags to the families of service members who died, but Friday marked the first time she was the recipient of a flag, she said.
"It's a tremendous honor," said Meeker. "For those who serve in uniform, for what they sacrifice to maintain our freedom, the flag represents that; it represents our service, our sacrifice, the freedoms that we have, and our independence."
Once the retreat was complete, the ceremony moved to an area behind the Replica, where a bonfire burned against the then-night sky. A group of Boy Scouts from Troop 248 on Fort Bliss stood in line near the fire as their senior patrol leader recited the regulation for flag disposal as found in the U.S. Flag Code. The Flag Code states that when an American flag is no longer fit for display due to weathering, fading or tattering, it should be disposed of in a dignified manner -- the most common of which is burning.
Four Troop 248 Scouts unfurled and walked the first flag to the edge of the fire, lifted it above the flames, and set it directly onto the blaze. They then stepped back, offered a silent salute, and performed an about-face. Their fellow Scouts followed suit with the rest of the flags -- some several feet long, others much smaller in size -- that were collected for the ceremony.
Troop 248 performs several service projects in conjunction with the Replica and has been involved with the flag retirement ceremony since last year, said Bob Sellers, Troop 248 Scout master. An interesting point worth noting, Sellers said, is that there are only two organizations authorized to retire flags as a unit: veterans' groups and the Boy Scouts.
"I'm a retired Marine, 27 years, so I've spent a long time serving my country," said Sellers. "Properly retiring the flags in an important function as far as I'm concerned, and watching the Scouts do it is important to me."
Friday's ceremony was the third in which Eric McCarthy, Troop 248 senior patrol leader has participated. He described being able to take part in the ceremony as "a beautiful experience."
"The ceremony went very well and I was very proud of the Scouts," said McCarthy, who has been a Scout since age 11. "They did really well. It was great watching the younger Scouts, because usually it's the older Scouts who retire the flags."
Meeker praised the professionalism and dignity of the JROTC cadets and Boy Scouts who took part in the ceremony, calling their performance "impeccable."
"The Scouts and the cadets, they're our next generation of leaders," said Meeker, "and they're off to the right start learning the history of our country and what it means to give back and ensure that our nation continues in strength for their generation and generations to follow."
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